Creality Sprite Extruder - Vulture V1 & V2 Toolhead - Ender-3

The Vulture V1/V2 Toolhead by GN500

The Vulture Toolhead is a compact, light direct drive toolhead for the Ender-3 and CR-10 3D printers. It utilizes the Creality Sprite SE Extruder, CR-Touch/BL-Touch, and a 5015 part cooling fan. 

If you like this design and want to support its designer and future projects, please download, like the design, and review the model. Remixes are welcome.

Update: Updated instructions for V2 parts

Update: Updated Parts to V2- Redesigned most parts to perfected version- Tested for 100+ print hours printing ABS in a 50C chamber with no failures(did need tightening)

Update: Updated Instructions - Added stuff about firmware changes and CR-Touch mounting +Resources
Update: Updated PCFanBracket to V1.1 - Made it adjustable in the Z-axis
Update: Updated Backplate to V1.3 - Strengthened belt mounting points

WARNING: If Using an Automatic Bed Leveling Probe (ABL), you will have to make changes in the printer's firmware or screen interface.

Design Concept

The Vulture Toolhead was designed to be a compact direct drive toolhead for the Ender-3 and CR-10 printers. It was designed to have the shortest possible filament path and to have adequate cooling. It was designed to be the practical and modular toolhead for Ender-3s.

Extra Parts/Hardware Needed

1x   5015 radial fan voltage printer-specific

1x   CR-Touch or BL-Touch

1x   Creality Sprite SE Extruder Kit

1x   ABS, ASA, PETG or other temperature-resistant filament

13x M3 nuts

2x   M3 x 20mm machine screws (BHCS or SHCS)

2x   M3 x 20mm machine screws (BHCS)

4x   M3 x 12mm machine screws (BHCS or SHCS)

3x   M3 x 10mm machine screws (BHCS or SHCS)

2x   M3 x 8mm machine screws (BHCS or SHCS)

14x M3 x 6mm machine screws (BHCS or SHCS)

1x   Pneumatic PTFE fitting (remove plastic top) 

Print Settings

All parts: Print using a temperature-resistant material with 40% infill and a 0.4mm nozzle.

VultureV2.1_Backplate.stl: Print in the following orientation with supports in the following locations and a large layer height (0.28mm).

VultureV2.0_HCFanPlate.stl: Print with the largest face down with no supports and either a small layer height (0.08mm) or adaptive layer height for best overhangs on the fan duct.

VultureV2.0_LeftBracket.stl: Print at a normal layer height (0.2mm) with the largest face down.

VultureV2.0_PCFanBracket.stl: Print at a normal layer height (0.2mm) with the largest face down.

VultureV2.1_CR-TouchBracket.stl: Print at a normal layer height (0.2mm) with the largest face down. Supports may be needed.

VultureV2.0_PCFanDuctV1.stl: Print at a normal layer height (0.2mm) with the largest opening down.

Assembly

Full Assembly Guide May Be Coming Soon!

1) Assemble 5015 Fan onto PC Fan Bracket. Use hot glue or super glue to attatch the Part Cooling fan duct into the 5015 fan.

2) Insert nuts for hotend into HC fan plate 

3) Assemble 4010 fan onto HC Fan Plate. Attach left bracket and HC fan plate into Sprite SE Extruder. The left bracket goes over the HC fan plate

4) Attach PC fan Bracket to Sprite SE Extruder.

5) Attach CR-Touch to CR-Touch Bracket and mount CR-Touch Bracket onto Sprite SE Extruder.

6) Remove plastic top form pneumatic fitting and screw into hotend. Push pneumatic fitting onto PTFE outlet on Sprite SE and screw in the hotend to the HC Fan Bracket. The larger part of the heat block goes towards the 5015 fan.

7) If not already done, screw the front screws of the HC Fan bracket into the Sprite SE.

8) Mount the original Ender backplate into the new Backplate after inserting M3 nuts into Backplate. Screw the New backplate into the stock one using 1-2 of the available holes.

9) Assemble stock extruder plate hardware onto the Backplate in the same configuration as stock. If you are transferring for using the Sprite SE, make sure to use the STOCK spacers, not the ones from the Sprite SE.

10) Mount the Backplate assembly on the V-Slot extrusion as normal and attach the belts. 

11) Attach the Extruder assembly to the Backplate assembly throught the right and left brackets.

12) Adjust the Z-Height of the PCFanBracket as needed so that the fan duct does not touch the heat sock or the bed. If using a CR- or BL-Touch, use a few M3 Spacers to correctly position the CR-Touch in the Z-Axis. Make sure to make adjustments in your firmware (or interface if possible) for the ABL Probe offsets in relation to the nozzle. You will also have to make changes in the firmware because the nozzle has moved from stock location. THESE RESOURCES MAY HELP: 

FOR KLIPPER 3D PRINTERS

13) Do some wire management and any adjustments as needed.  If you have any questions or comments, please leave them in the comments section and I will try to get back to you as soon as possible. Enjoy!

Looking for a modern looking hotend shroud for the Ender-3 that requires minimal hardware? Try the Creality Modern Hotend Shroud: Creality Cloud      Printables